A Walk in the Woods - Buying Expensive Gear - #3

The narrator to the book, Bill Bryson, is a very interesting character. The book starts off with Bryson describing the various scenarios one will face on the Appalachian trail. He recalls ridiculous stories that include owl attacks, snakes in your sleeping bag, Lyme disease, lighting strikes, etc. While l these stories could have actually happened, it is definitely not a daily occurrence on the trail. Bryson immediately shows that he is a funny character through the embellishment of these stories. Later in the chapter, Bryson decided that he is going to hike the Appalachian trail, so he goes to a local outfitter. There he discovers very quickly that equipment for hiking (specifically backpacking) is very expensive. Having backpacked myself, I can definitely relate to this. For example, because you want to keep everything light, you are encouraged to buy a light sleeping bag. These are always expensive, and in addition to the sleeping bag you must also buy the pouch that it comes with. The 250$ backpack does not come with the necessary straps, nor is it rainproof. Bryson makes an comment on how the backpack developers may have wanted to design the backpack so you could take it outside. Bryson shows his displeasure in the store. Overall, I think I will see this ignorance continue throughout the book, onto the trail.